Drum series printing machine



March 17, 1953 Filed Feb. 5. 1948 J. B. PILKINGTON 2,631,531

DRUM SERIES PRINTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fiy. .1

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March 17, 1953 J. B. PILKINGTON 2,631,531

DRUM SERIES PRINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet :5

March 17, 1953- Filed Feb. 5, 1948 J. B. PILKINGTON DRUM SERIES PRINTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I JNVENTOR. JAMAY 6. PM lf/NG TO/V drawings, wherein:

.tional view taken 111181,

Patented Mar. 17, 1953 UNITED" STATES PATENT OFFICE DRUM SERIES PRINTING MACHINE James B. Pilkington, Goldsboro, N. 0. Application February 3, 1948, Serial No. 5,971

This invention relates to sign printing machines and-more particularly to a sign printing machine foruse in mercantile establishments'for printing price signs or markers for indicating the price of articles of merchandise.

'A main object of the invention-is to provide .a novel and improved sign'printing machine matic in operation to provide a sign printed as required as a result of merelysetting the indicia wheels of the machine, rotating said indicia wheels simultaneously into printing position and rotating-an operating-crank following the aforementioned indicia-setting operations.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and-from the accompanying Figure lis a side elevational view of a sign printing machine constructed in accordance with chine of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinalcross secthrough the machine of Fig- Figure 4 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on line; 4-4 of Figure 3, Figure 5 is an; enlarged fragmentary detail across sectional view taken on line 3-5 of Fig- ,urezl,

-Figure-6;is adetail cross sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5, 3

Figure '7 is a cross sectional online of Figure 4,

-Figure 8 is an enlarged detail cross sectional view taken on line 8+8, of Figure '7,

Figure 9 is a detail fragmentary cross sectional view taken axially through the printing drum supporting shaft of the machine of Figure 1.-

Referring to the: drawings, ll designates a housing formed of suitable sheet material such as sheet metal or the like, said housingrhaving a j top, portion 12 which is hinged to the main body of the housing at the top edge of the rear end wall [3 of said main body, as shown at M. ,Said main bodyis generally rectangular in shape and is provided with a base plate I 5 1 p 4 Claims. (o1.-1o1 110) detail view taken Rigidly secured to rear end wall I3 is abifurcated bracket member [6 and pivotally secured to said bracket member between its arms by a pivot pin 11 is a right angled arm [8 extending upwardly and forwardly in the housing ll I The forward end portion of arm [8 comprises a yoke I9 and journalled in the forward ends of the yoke arms is a hollow shaft 20. Rotatably mounted on said hollow shaft 20 are a plurality of printing drum elements 2| to 2'6, having-secured thereto the respective smaller disc elements 34 to 39, the end drumelement 26 having secured to its outside surface an additional .diSc 40, the respective discs 34 to 40 being formed with gear teeth at their peripheries. Meshing with the respecti-ve toothed disc elements 34 to 40 arelthe respective toothed discs 2'! to 33 rotatably mounted on a shaft 4| secured to forwardly extending arms 42, 42 carried by the respective arms of the yoke l9. Toothed discs 2'! to 33 project through an opening 43 formed in the front wall 44 of the hinged upper portion ll of the housing,

The printing drum elements' 2! to 26 carry at their peripheraledges raised printing characters, and by rotatively adjusting the drum elements with respect to each other by means of the toothed discs 21 to 33, the characters may be juxtaposed so that a desired legend may be formed bythe juxtaposed combination of characters at a pre-- determined peripheral'portion of the combined drum elements, said peripheral portion being visible from the front end of the housing through a window 44' formed in the upper portion of the top housing element I 2. Secured to said top housing element rearwardly adjacent window 44' is an upstanding-mirror, 45 angled forwardly as shown in Figure 3. The reflected mirror images of the juxtaposed printing characters may be viewed inthe mirror 45,,providing the same appearance as obtained when the legend is printed on a card. i F

, Rotatably mounted on one end of hollow shaft 20 and extending through a vertical slot 49 formed in one of the side walls of top housing member 2 is a sleeved knob 46, the end of the shaft 20 bein flanged at 41 and the sleeve portion of knob 46 being inwardly flanged at 48 to cooperate with flange 41 to prevent endwise removal'of the knob. Rotatively mounted on the other end of shaft 20 and extending through another vertical slot49 formed in the other side wall of top housing member I2 is a sleeved knob 50. Secured to the sleeve portion of knob 50 is a resilient finger ele ment 5| which i enga ed in one of a plurality of radial grooves 52 formed in the end disc element 3 49, thereby keying the knob 59 to said end disc element 40.

Secured inside hollow shaft 20 are apertured bearing discs 53 and 54 through which rotatively passes a rod member 55. The rod member 55 is formed with a head 56 at one end which is held in abutment with disc 53 by a coiled spring bearing between. head. 56 and the sleeved knob 50. At its other end the rodimember 55 carries a toothed clutch plate 58. Sleeved knob 45 carries an axial stud 59 having at its end a toothed clutch plate 69 adapted to interlock with clutch plate 58 when sleeved knob 48 is moved axially inwardly. coiled spring 6| in knob 46 bears between theend flange 41 of shaft 20 and the interior end wall surface of said sleeved knob 46 and biases. the. toothed clutch plate 60 out of engagement with clutch plate 58.

. Rodmember 55 is formed at 82 with left hand threads and at 63; with right hand threads. Threaded on the left han'ct'thread 62 is a pyramidal hexagon nut 84' and threaded on the right hand threads 631s a pyramidal hexagon nut 65.

Said nuts. 64' and 85 engage a shoe member'fifi which is positioned in a longitudinal slot 9'! formed in shaft. 20., saidshoe member extending substantially thev entire axial length of the drum members 2| to 2.8 and. having respective inclined flatinner'surfaces 68 and 69 slidably engaged by respective. flats of the nuts' 64 and 65: The shoe member is formed with a recess in which is positioned'a bowed leaf spring 1| bearing between the'recesslil' and the adjacent inner wall surfaces of. shaft 20, thereby biasing the shoe member 66 inwardly. Whenknobx50 is .hel'dandknob 49 is .movediinwardly' to interlock clutch" plate elements 88' and 58, and then knob 46 is rotated clockwise, rod 55 is. rotated causing the nuts 64 and '65 to move toward. each other and to force shoe member 86" outwardly. This frictionallylocks the drum members 2'! to 26 to the shaft/'28; Unlocking. of' said drum members is accomplished by rotating knob 46 counterclockwise with. said clutch plate. elements 58 and 60 in interlocking engagement.

Journalled transversely in the rear portions of the. side walls of the main body of housin H isashaft 12 which projects outside the housing at one end. Secured to said external end is a wheel 13 provided with an operating handle 14.

At its intermediate portion shaft i2 carries a cam which. engages the upstandin rear portion of the right angled arm I8, anti-friction rollers L6. being, providedinarm l8 at the. region of con tact of cam 15. therewith The cam 15 has a portion 11' ofreduced radius. When the cam 75 presents. the portion TI against. the rollers T6, the arm [8 is allowedto swing dowmvardlybygravity to the full line position shown'in Figure 3. When the remaining peripheral portion of cam 15' is in engagement with arm l8, said arm is supported in an upwardly swung position, shown in dotted view' in Figure-3. A spring 18. is connected between thearm- I 8 and the rear wall of thehousing main body to cushion the downward: swinging movement of arm Ii8.

Secured. tothe'base ii at its; intermediate portionv is-averticalsupport 19 adjustable in height which carries at. its top enda horizontal inking pad 88L Designated at'8.! is anupstandingframe carried by base. l5 in which are journalled respective transverse shafts 82- and 83..v At the upper portion of frame. 81,;and at each. sidethereof are vertically spacedlongitudinal rai1s84. and 85.

Slidably engaged with said rails are respective blocks 86, 88 and secured to said blocks are for wardly extending arms 81, 81. Journalled to the ends of arms 81, 8! is an inking roller 88 which is engageable with the inking surface of pad 80. Secured to the end portions of the shafts 82 and 83 are sprocket wheels 89, 89 and engaged on said sprocket wheels are the respective sprocket chains 99-, 98. Theshaft 83 carries at itsends gears 9|, 9:! meshing with gears 92', 92, carried on the drive shaft 12.

Th sprocket chains 99, 98 are each formed with an outwardly projecting lug 93. Each block 88 has pivoted therein at 94 a lever 95 formed with end-projections 99, 96, said levers being swingable in suitable recesses formed in the blocks so thati thelleversmay assume positions wherein the upper projections 96 extend outwardly from the blocks, as in Figure 7, or wherein only th lower projections 96 extendoutwardly therefrom. [Projectingfrom the frame-8| subadiace'nt shaft 82 are lugs 91 engageable with the lowerproj ecti'ons 95" when the blocks 88, as-they move forwardly,

reach the forward end'of frame 8| as will be sub.- sequently described. Projecting from theframe 8!- above and adjacent the shaft 83- are similar lugs 98 engageable with the upper projections 96 when the blocks '86, as they move rearwardly, reach the-rearendof frame 81. The engagement of the lugs 91 and 99wi th the respectivelowerand upper projections causes the levers 95 to be swun around their pivots 94' so that the engaged projections are pushed inwardly into housed positions in the blocks and the opposite projections on the levers 95 are moved into: outwardly projecting positions.

When drive shaft "1-2 is rotated counterclockwise, as viewed in Figure 3, the gears 91 rotate shaft 83 clockwise and lugs 93 of the sprocket chains 90, engage the lower'proje'ctions 96of the blocks 88 and cause said blocks tomove forwardly, carrying the inking" roller 88 over the inking pad 80. Atthe sametime'cam 15' engages arm l8 and lifts it to the dottedlineposition of Figure 3. the blocks 86, 86 approach the forward end of frame 8|, theinking roller engages the printing characters at the bottom of the drum elements 21 to 26 and applies ink thereto. As the blocks 88, 86 reach for forward'end of frame 8|, lugs 9"! push back' the lower projections 96, 98' and cause the upper projections 96, 96- to emerge from the blocks; The lugs*9'3 of the chains are thereby freed from the lower projections 96', 96' and move around the forward sprocket wheels 89 into engagement with the upper projections '98, 96. of the blocks, thereby initiatingthe return movement of? the roller 88. As the blocks 86', '86 approach the rear end of frame 8! the reduced portion ll of cam -15engages thearm- I 8; allowing the arm to swi-ngdownwardly for a printing stroke. At the same time, the upper projections 9'6 '96 of the blocks are engaged by the lugs 98 causing the upper'projections 96, 96 to be pushed inwardly and causing the lower projections 96", 96' to emerge from the blocks. The sprocket teeth 93-; 93 are thereby released fromengagement with the upper projections 95, 96' and move around-the sprocket wheels at the rear end of frame 81 into engagement with the lower projections 96', 96 in position for the next inking and printing stroke of the machine.

Secured to base 15 beneath the printing drums 2 I 0028 in the transverse vertical plane of shaft 29 is a frame 99 having a channeled top member I90 defining a printing bed. Connected to one end of bed I00 is a downwardly inclined chanfnii discharge chute extending through a horizontal slot I02 formed in the side wall of the main body of housing II. Mounted on base I adjace'ntthe opposite end of bed I00 is an upstandingrectangular frame I03. Vertically slidable inv frame I03 is a plate member I04 carried on a vertical sleeve I05. Sleeve I05 is telescoped over.a vertical post I06 secured to base I5 and is provided with a bottom flange I0I. Threaded on post I06 is an adjusting nut I08. Encircling post I06'and bearingbetween flange I01 and nut I00 is acoiled spring I09. Spring'l09 biases plate I04 upwardly, said plate carrying the blank cards H0 stacked thereon.

Secured to the top end of frame l03 are a pair of transverse guide rails I'H," I'||.,' and slidably secured thereto is a block member- II2i Depending fromisaid' block memberis a footelement I I3 H6 meshing with a worm III carried'on shaft 12'. At its forward end shaft I I5 carries a disc I I8. 'DiscT'I I8 is formed with an eccentric groove- ,H8. .SGQ'LIIGd transversely across frame I03 below'disc H8 is. a bar I03. Pivotally secured tobar I03at I23 is an arm I which carries at its intermediate portion a projection I I9 which i is "slidably received'in groove H8. The top end of arm I20 is notched, as shown at |2| and roj tatably receives arearwardly'projecting pin I22 carried by block H2. Rotation of shaft I2 is communicated to shaft I I5 through the worm III and worm gear I I6, producing rotation of disc H8. Each rotation of disc H8 produces an oscillation of arm I20 around the pivot pin I23 and reciprocates the sliding block H2. Each time block I I2 reciprocates, a card is fed by foot H3 from the stack H0 onto the channeled bed I 00, pushing the card previously positioned on the bed into the discharge chute |0| from which it slides out of the housing II through the slot I02.

In operation, the drum members 2| to 26 are set by means of the toothed discs 21 to 33 to provide a desired legend, as above explained, by referring to the viewing mirror 45. Knob 50 is then held stationary and knob 46 is pushed inwardly and rotated to lock the drum members to the shaft 20 in the manner previously described. Knob 46 is then released. Toothed disc 33 is then held stationary and knob 50 is rotated to align a pointed marker thereon with a set index mark onthe adjacent surface of cover I2. Resilient finger 5| engages a radial groove 52 in disc member 40, whereby knob 50 is keyed to disc member 40 in this position. Disc 33 is then released and knob 50 is rotated counterclockwise, as viewed in Figure 1, through the angle required to bring the desired line of type over the bed I00. In this latter position the pointer on knob 50 is aligned with a print index mark on the adjacent surface of cover I2. Yoke I9 carries a set screw 5|, which is engaged by finger 5| in said latter position to provide positive alignment of the desired line of type with the printing bed. Wheel I3 is then rotated through one turn counterclockwise, as viewed in Figure 1. As above described, this rotates shaft I2, causing the type to be inked by roller 88 and producing the downward printing stroke of the drum members 2| to 26. As the printing stroke is completed and the drum members are raised by the upward movement of arm I8, a fresh card is fed onto the bed I00 by the reciprocation of foot H3. The printed card is pushed out of the slot I02 by said fresh card. When wheel I3 completes its cycle of rotation, all the other parts return to theirstarting positions.

In order to set the drums 2| to 26 to provide the desired row of printing characters, shaft I2 is first rotated to elevate the arm I8 by the action of cam I5 to the dotted lineposition of Figure3. This may be employed as the starting position of the printing cycle.

The lugs 9! and 98 are spaced sufficiently from the chains 90 to provide clearance for the projections 93 while being still engageable with the respective inwardly movable projections 96 and 90 carried by the blocks 06.

While a specific embodiment of a sign card printing machine has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it'is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: l 1. In a sign card printing machine, a support,

' an arm mounted upon said support, a tubular shaft journalled upon-said arm, a plurality of coaxially arranged printing drums rotatably mount- ,ed upon said tubular shaft, a gear secured to the side of each printing drum, individual driving gears rotatably mounted upon said arm and operatively engaging the gears secured to the sides of said printing drums for rotating the discs independently into selected adjusted positions, a radially shiftable brake shoe secured to the tubular shaft and frictionally engaging all of said printing drums, a rod member mounted in said shaft for movement axially of said shaft, a clutch element on one end of said rod member, axially shiftable elements mounted on said rod member intermediate the ends of the latter and engaging said brake shoe for moving the same radially outwardly into clamping engagement with all of said printing drums to lock the same in selected adjusted positions upon said tubular shaft, and a complemental clutch element movably supported in the end of said tubular shaft adjacent said first named clutch element and shiftable into engagement with the latter for shifting the axially shiftable elements.

2. In a printing machine, a tubular shaft, a plurality of coaxially arranged printing drums rotatably mounted on the shaft. a gear aifixed to the side of each printingdrum, individual driving gears operatively engaging the gears secured to the drums for separately rotating the drums, a brake shoe connected to said shaft for radial inward and outward movement with respect to the latter and friotionally engaging all of said drums, a rod member mounted in said shaft for movement axially of said shaft, a clutch element on one end of said rod member, axially movable actuators mounted on said rod member intermediate the ends of the latter and engaging said shoe, and a complemental clutch element movably supported in the end of said tubular shaft adjacent said first named clutch element and shiftable into engagement with the latter to thereby cause the radial outward movement of said shoe and. locking engagement of the latter with said drums.

3. In a sign printing machine, an arm, a tubular shaft rotatably supported in said arm, a plurality of coaxially arranged printing drums ro- 7 tatably mounted uponsaid shaft intermediate its ends, a gear secured tothe side of eachprinting drum, individual driving gears rotatably mounted upon said arm and operatively engaging the gears secured to said drums for separately rotating said drums, a brake shoe connected tosaid shaft for radial inward and outward movement with respect to the latter and frictional-1y engaging all of said drums, a rod member mounted in said shaft for movement axially of said shaft, axially movable elements mounted on said rod member intermediate the ends of the latter and engaging said shoe, a clutch element on one end of saidrod member, and a hand actuable clutch element movably supported in the end of said shaft adjacent said first named clutch element and shiftable into engagement with the latter to thereby cause a radial outward movement of said shoe and locking engagement of the latter with said drums.

4. In a signprinting machine, an arm, a tubular shaft rotatably supported in said arm, a plurality of coaxially arranged printing drums ro-' tatably mounted upon said shaft intermediate its ends, a gear secured to the side of each printing. drum, individual driving gears rotatably mounted upon said arm and operatively engaging the gears secured to said drums for separately rotating said drums, a brake shoe connected to said shaft for radial inward and outward movement with respect to the latter and frictionally engaging all of said drums, a rod member mounted in said shaft for movement axially of said shaft, axially 8 movable elements mounted on said rod member intermediatethe endsof the latter and engaging said shoe, a clutch element on one end of said rod member, a hand actuable clutch element movably supported in the end of said shaft adjacent said first named clutch element and shiftable into engagement with the latter to thereby cause a radial outward movement of said shoe and locking engagement of the latter with sai'd'drums, and hand actuablemeans connected to the other end of said shaft for axial movement and hearing against-the otherend of said rod.

JAMES B. PILKINGTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this -patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 300,897 Richards June 24, 1884 1,100,641 Willard et a1. June 16, 1914 1,125,995 Feuerstein Jan. 26, 1915 1,202,194 Lang Oct. 24, 1916 1,290,509 Chandler Jan. 7, 1919 1,376,640 Reynolds May 3, 1921 1,681,905 Scuse Aug, 21, 1928 1,728,826 Gruttmann Sept. 17, 1929 1,803,132 Putnam Apr. 28,1931 1,826,855 Woodcock Oct. 13, 1931 1,879,96d Whitlock Sept. 27, 1932 1,909,141 Woodward May 16, 1933 2,443,426 Keuper June 15, 1948 

